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Mate availability and intruder pressure as determinants of territory size in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)

Mate availability and intruder pressure as determinants of territory size in male bushbuck... The relative importance of mate availability and intruder pressure for the regulation of territory size in adult male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) was investigated over a period of 3 years in a free-ranging population. The relationships between territory area and two variables, namely, access to females and intruder pressure by three different male age classes (territory holders, young-adult bachelors, subadult floaters) were examined. It was shown that the number of available mating partners was positively correlated with territory size. The time spent in association with females by territorial males (as determined by Cole’s coefficient of association) was not significantly affected by male territory size. Intrusion pressure by neighbouring territory holders was positively correlated with male territory area. Our results suggest a trade-off between costs (increasing intrusion pressure) and benefits (high mate availability) of large territory size. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png acta ethologica Springer Journals

Mate availability and intruder pressure as determinants of territory size in male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)

Wronski, Torsten; Plath, Martin
acta ethologica , Volume 9 (1) – Jun 8, 2006
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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by Springer-Verlag and ISPA
Subject
Life Sciences; Behavioral Sciences; Zoology; Evolutionary Biology
ISSN
0873-9749
eISSN
1437-9546
DOI
10.1007/s10211-006-0013-7
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The relative importance of mate availability and intruder pressure for the regulation of territory size in adult male bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) was investigated over a period of 3 years in a free-ranging population. The relationships between territory area and two variables, namely, access to females and intruder pressure by three different male age classes (territory holders, young-adult bachelors, subadult floaters) were examined. It was shown that the number of available mating partners was positively correlated with territory size. The time spent in association with females by territorial males (as determined by Cole’s coefficient of association) was not significantly affected by male territory size. Intrusion pressure by neighbouring territory holders was positively correlated with male territory area. Our results suggest a trade-off between costs (increasing intrusion pressure) and benefits (high mate availability) of large territory size.

Journal

acta ethologica – Springer Journals

Published: Jun 8, 2006

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